Ice tray



F. P. KEIPER Jan. 16, 1940.

I CE TRAY Filed March 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Ill; ATTORNEYS.

F. P. KEIPER Jan. 16, 1940.

ICE TRAY Filed March 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 71, 1 7? Afr/Pee.

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5 Ms ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1940. F. P. KEIPER ICE TRAY Filed March 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 5 1v: 7? Karen /IJ ATTORNEYS.

F. P. KEIPER Jan. 16, 1940.

ICE TRAY Filed March 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. r Roda/J PATH/:8.

ATTORNEYJ. v

memes Jan. 16, 1940 TRAY Francis P. Keiper, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, at corporation of Delaware.

application March 15, 1938, Serial No. 196,034

14 Claims.

This invention relates to freezing devices and particularly to ice trays and gridstherefor employed in household refrigerating apparatuses.

Recently, there has been placedon the market 5 liquid freezing devices such as ice trays and grids wherein the grid is of a rigid metal-wall unitary construction and divides the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments. The

grid is removable from the tray as a unit and has certain walls thereof movable independently of and relative to other walls'for breaking the bond between ice blocks and their compartment walls in order to eflect release of the ice blocks from the grid structure. The grids of devices of this type have been limited'to a structure which forms only two longitudinal rows of ice block compartments in atray, thus reducing the number of ice blocks obtainable from a single tray and consequently necessitating the provision of a great number of trays in household refrigerators. I, therefore, contemplate the provision of an ice tray grid for such freezing-devices which is of a unitary substantially rigid wall construction and wherein a plurality 'of horizontally spaced apart longitudinal walls cooperate with and are mov ablerelative to transverse walls to divide the interior of a tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved rigid movable grid wall structure adapted to be disposed in an ice tray for dividing the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments and a novelmethod oi removing the grid from the tray and particularly ice blocks from the grid structure without applying heat thereto. t

Another object of my present invention is to provide an ice tray with a removable single thickness substantially non-flexible metal-walled unitary grid structure which has spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of spaced apart walls extending transversely thereto dividing the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments and wherein at least one of the longitudinal grid walls isv movable relative to the other longitudinal grid wall and independently of the transverse grid walls for enlarging the ice block compartments between the longitudinal walls and for breaking the bond between the ice blocks and the compartment walls to release ice blocks from the grid structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide an ice tray grid structure having spaced apart longitudinal walls cooperating with a plurality of transverse walls to form three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments wherein the transverse walls are substantially vertically disposed and the longitudinal walls extend parallel to one another in an inclined or acute angled position to form compartments therebetween of 6 a parallelogram shape in one direction of cross section therethrough and wherein these longitudinal walls are movable relative to and independently of the transverse walls to change their normal inclination or to move them out of their 1 normal angled position to enlarge the ice block compartments therebetween and release ice blocks from the walls thereof.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further object of the invention to provide a 15 grid structure of the type described with rigid or substantially non-flexible metal walls and wherein movement of the longitudinal grid walls to enlarge the parallelograr'n-shaped ice compartments between the longitudinal walls also imparts a 20 force to ice blocks beyond the longitudinal walls. to break the bond between these ice, blocks and the transverse grid walls to facilitate removal of ice blocks from the grid structure.

Still further and more specific objects and ad- 25 vantages reside in details of construction of my improved grid structure and in novel combinations and arrangements of parts thereof as will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

,'In the drawings:

' Fig. -1 is a top plan view of a liquid freezing device comprising a tray having a grid constructed in accordance with the present invention disposed therein; 35

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1 showing the tray in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the freezing device taken on the line 3--3 of Fi 1; 40

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the rid structure and ice blocks bonded thereto elevated relative to the tray;

Fig. 5 is a view of the grid removed from the tray and disclosing walls thereof moved to break the bond between same and ice blocks therein;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the grid and ice blocks shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the device taken on the line 1-'! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and showing certain movable parts of the grid connected to gether; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one 55 part of the mechanism employed to move certain walls of the grid.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my invention, I have disclosed my improved liquid freezing device as including a metal ice tray Ill having side walls H (see Fig. 3), a bottom wall l2 and opposed end walls l3 and I4. The tray side walls II and the front wall l3 thereof converge outwardly toward the top of the tray. The tray back wall I4 is converged outwardly toward the top of the tray a greater distance than other walls thereof for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter. The walls |3 and H of tray |0 have their upper portion rolled over as at l5 to provide a rim which extends continuously around the top of the tray to increaseits structural strength. A portion of the metal of tray I0 is extended downwardly from the rim l5, as at l6, (see Fig. 2) at the front of the tray and provides a mounting for a heavy metal piece I 1 which has a handle l8 pivotally secured thereto as at |9. The handle l8 facilitates placing of the freezing device in or on a freezing support or shelf of an evaporator of a refrigerating system'and a cam surface formed thereon functions, upon actuating the handle, to break an ice bond between the tray and its support to permit removal of the freezing device and its frozen contents from the evaporator in the well-known manner.

The tray ID has in combination therewith a unitary metal grid structure, generally represented by the reference character 2|, and this grid is removably disposed within the tray. The grid 2| includes two s ngle thickness substantially non-flexible horizontally spaced apart metal walls 22 and 23 and a plurality of single thickness rigid metal walls 24 extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof to divide the interior of tray l0 into three longitudinal rows of open top cells or compartments 25. It will be noted that the cross or transverse walls 24 of grid 2| are vertically disposed and that the longitudinal walls 22 and 23 extend substantially parallel to one another and are normally inclined or located at an acute angle, other than a right angle, relative to the bottom wall l2 of tray Ill. Thus, the ice block compartments located between the longitudinal walls 22 and 23 are of a parallelogram form in one direction of cross section therethrough (see Fig. 3) and the compartments beyond the walls 22 at the one side of the tray ID are also of a substantially parallelogram form, while the compartments beyond wall 23 at the other side of tray ID are of a substantially trapezoid form. The purpose of providing the parallelogram-shaped compartments between the longitudinal walls 22 and 23 isto permit enlargement of these compartments for releasing ice blocks therefrom as will become apparent hereinafter.

Each longitudinal walls 22 and 23 of grid structure 2| has a plurality of spaced apart elongated openings extending from a point intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof upwardly to a point slightly spaced from the top edge thereof. Each transverse wall 24 of grid 2| has a pair of slots 26 cut therein and extending from the bottom edge thereof upwardly to a point slightly above the central part thereof (see Fig. 3). The web portions, indicated as at 21 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, of longitudinal walls 22 and 23 and located below the openings therein are received in the slots 26 of walls 24. The web portions, indicated as at 28 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, of transverse walls 24 and located above the slots 26 therein are received in the elongated openings of the longitudinal walls 22 and 23. Thus, the walls 22, 23 and 24 of grid 2| are interlocked together, preferably for movement relative to one another. A web 29 located above the elongated openings in longitudinal walls 22 and 23 is slit as at 3| and the web 29 is bent outwardly away from wall 22 or 23 to permit webs 28 of transverse walls 24 to be inserted into the elongated openings of walls 22 and 23. After the walls 24 have been located in position with their slots 26 straddling the webs 21 of walls 22 and 23, the webs 29 are bent back parallel with walls 22 and 23 and the slit 3| is soldered or welded closed to permanently secure the grid walls together to form a unitary structure. The walls 22 and 23 are movable relative to walls 24 of grid 2|, and the substantially triangular form of slots 26 in transverse walls 24 permit this relative movement. In the present disclosure, the transverse grid walls 24 each have a raised central top edge portion 33 (see Fig. 3) having an opening 34 therethrough which receives a rod 35. The end transverse grid wall 24 adjacent the front wall |3 of tray l0 and one of the transverse grid walls 24 near the lever end of the structure 2| is provided with a bentover ear part 36 formed integral with the extended top edge portion 33 of these walls 24. Each of these bent-over ear parts 36 in the two transverse grid walls 24 serve to support a toggle device or the like employed for changing the direction of longitudinal movement of rod 35 into a transverse force for application to the walls 22 and 23 of the grid structure 2|. Therefore, each ear part 36 has a cam member 31 pivotally mounted thereto by a pin or rivet 38. Each member 31 is provided with a finger 39 which is connected by a pin or rivet 4| with a cross bar element 42. The element 42 has depending legs 43 and 44 each provided with a slot 45 which fits overv the top edge of longitudinal grid walls 22 and 23. Bar element 43 is thus permitted to slide along the top edge of walls 22 and 23 lengthwise of the grid structure when member 31 is rotated to impart force to element 42 in a direction transverse of the grid structure. Member 31 is also provided with a second finger 46 which is connected by a pin or rivet 41 to one end of a link 48. The opposite end of the link 48 is secured by a pin or rivet 49 to rod 35. The two toggle devices are similarly constructed and the parts thereof are arranged for free movement relative to one another soas to cooperate in transmitting a lengthwise movement of rod 35 into a transverse movement of bar element 42 to tilt the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 23 in the manner and for the purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. Rod 35 has a flattened end portion 5| provided with an opening which receives a short shaft 52 (see Fig. 8). The shaft 52 extends through a horizontally elongated opening 53 provided in an upstanding end portion 54 of each longitudinal grid wall 22 and 23, and the shaft 52 has enlarged ends 55 which maintain it in position on the grid walls 22 and. 23. A second short shaft 56 extends throuh round holes provided in the upstanding end portion 54 of walls 22 and 23 and has enlarged ends 51 for locking same to the walls 22 and 23. It is to be understood that, since the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 23 are tilted or moved in a manner to be presently described, the fit of shafts 52 and 56 in the openings provided therefor in walls 22 and 23 is loose to permit angular movement of these walls about shafts 52 and 56 without binding. An operating lever 6|, which is sub- 6| upon the grid structure.

6| also have elongated curved openings 61 prosurface 64. Legs 65 (see Fig. 8) depending fromlever 6| are provided with round holes 66. which receive shaft 56 to thereby pivotally mount lever The legs 65 of lever vided therein which receive shaft 52 and serve as cam means for moving shaft 52; and, consequently, the rod 35 connected thereto lengthwise of the grid structure 2|. Lever 6| has a pair of depending lips 69 (see Fig. 2) which rest against the top edge of one transverse grid wall 24 to prevent the lever from becoming bonded to the unitary removable grid construction.

As hereinbefore stated, the longitudinal walls 22 and 23 of grid structure 2| are normally inclined or are disposed at an acute angle while the transverse walls 24 are vertically disposed. This normal inclination of the grid walls to form parallelogram-shaped compartments between the walls 22 and 23 has a definite purpose in the present device as will become apparent in the description of operation thereof. The rigid longitudinal grid walls 22 and 23 are tiltable or movable independently. of and relative to the transverse grid walls 24 for breaking ice blocks loose from the 'walls and for enlarging the compartments located between the grid walls 22 and 23. Walls 22 and 23 are mounted for movement about the top edge of slots 26 in walls 24 and, when moved out of their normal disposition ofinclination into a substantially vertical position as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the parallelogramshaped compartments 25. therebetween are changed to a rectangular form and these compartments are thereby enlarged.-

Assume that water has been frozen in tray ID in the form of ice blocks in compartments 25, by the cooling effect of an evaporator of a refrigerating system, and the tray I!) has, by manipulation of tray handle l8, been removed-from the evaporator and it is now desired to harvest ice blocks from the freezing device. The handle end 62 of operating lever BI is, therefore, elevated to pivot the lever 5| about shaft 56. This pivoting of lever 6| causes the cam surfaces 64 on the short end 63 thereof to engage the rim |5 at the back of tray I0 and exert a force against the tray. This force applied to the rear wall of tray l0 causes the unitary grid structure 2| together with ice blocks adhering or bonded thereto to be elevated relative to the tray as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be noted that this initial movement of lever 6| does not move rod 35 because the walls of elongated openings 61, in the legs 65 of lever 6|. are shaped to permit this initial movement of lever 6| by passing freely over shaft 52. After the bond between the ice blocks and tray ID has been broken, by elevation of the grid structure 2| in the manner described, the grid may be removed from the tray. Therefore, further movement of lever 6|, in its single direction of motion, causes the walls at the lower portion ofopenings 67 to impart a force to shaft 52. S nce rod 35 has its end 5| secured to shaft 52, this pulling force moves shaft 52 and also rod 35 lengthwise of the grid structure 2| toward the lever end thereof with shaft 52 moving horizon-' tally within elongated openings 53 provided in walls 22 and 23 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The lengthwise movement of rod 35 pulls on the links 48 of the two toggle devices, and this pulling force rotates cam members 31 about their pivot pins or rivets 38. Rotation of members 31 causes pins or rivets 4| to exert a thrust to bar members 42 in a direction transverse of the grid structure 2| (see Fig. 6). The transverse movement of bar members 42 causes, since walls of slots 45 provided therein engage walls 22 and 23, a simultaneous tilting movement of the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 23 out of their normal acute angled position or disposition of inclination into a substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. pivot about the top of slots 26 provided in the transverse grid walls 24 to move relative to and independently of these transverse walls. Movement of grid walls 22 and 23 in this manner changes theposition thereof and enlarges the compartments located therebetween while, at the same time, moving the blocks of ice to break the bond between them and walls of their compartments. The parallelogram form of the compartments located between grid walls 22 and 23 is thereby changed into a rectangular shape, and this change widens the compartments to permit the loosened ice blocks to freely fall therefrom. It is to be understood, however, that Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings are merely imaginary views,

Grid walls 22 and 23' since the drawings show ice blocks within the grid compartments to illustrate their position relative to the grid walls just prior to being removed from the grid structure-2 The removed ice blocks may fall into a suitable receptacle or upon a table top. Movement of the longitudinal grid walls 22 and 23 does not alter the unitary character of the grid structure, and these walls may be returned to their normal angled disposition by lowering lever 6| into its normal position against the top of the grid structure 2| to again render same ready to be repositioned in a tray. Releasing of ice blocks and harvesting thereof from the grid structure 2| may, if desired, be facilitated by treating or coating walls of the ice block compartments with a waxy or the like substance. I

. It will be apparent that I have provided an im-.

By providing a movable rigid grid wall structure of the type described, I increase the ice block capacity of a freezing device for household refrigerating apparatusesto thereby reduce the number of such devices ordinarily required in such ap- In my present device I have utilized paratuses. the desirable feature of employing a single lever operable in one direction of motion only for removing the grid and ice bonded thereto from the trayand for also simultaneously moving certain Walls of the grid structure relative to and independently of other walls thereof to effect release of ice blocks from the ice compartments of the grid structure. My improved rigid metal walled device is strong, durable and effective to remove ice blocks without shattering same while at the same time possessing the fast freezing characteristics of metal tray and grid combinations.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms 1. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary grid structure defining three or more'longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls extending substantially parallel to one another and being normally inclined with respect to the disposition of said transverse walls to provide ice block compartments' therebetween of parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, at least one of said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and means for moving said one longitudinal grid wall relative to said transverse grid walls out of its normal inclined position to enlarge the compartments between said longitudinal grid walls.

2. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary grid structure defining three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls extending substantially parallel to one another and being normally inclined with respect to the disposition of said transverse walls to provide ice block compartments therebetween of parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and means for moving said longitudinal grid walls relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal inclined position to enlarge the compartments therebeween.

3. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary grid structure defining three or more longitudinalrows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls extending substantially parallel to one another and being normally inclined with respect to the disposition of said transverse walls to provide ice block compartments therebetween of parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and mechanism associated with said longitudinal grid walls for imparting a force thereto to simultaneously move same relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal inclined position to enlarge the compartments therebetween.

1. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a plurality of spaced apart substantially uniform single thickness rigid metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of rigid metal walls extendmg transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary grid structure defining three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls extending substantially parallel to one another and being normally inclined with respect to the disposition of said transverse walls to provide ice block compartments therebetween of parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, at least one of said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and means for moving said one longitudinal grid wall relative to said transverse grid walls out of its normal inclined position to enlarge the compartments between said longitudinal grid walls.

5. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a plurality of spaced apart substantially uniform single thickness rigid metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of rigid metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary grid structure defining three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls extending substantially parallel to one another and being normally inclined with respect to the disposition of said transverse walls to provide ice block compartments therebetween of parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and means for moving said longitudinal grid walls relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal inclined position to enlarge the compartments therebetween.

6. A grid for disposition in a freezing tray comprising, a plurality of spaced apart substantially uniform single thickness rigid metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of rigid metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a unitary grid structure defining three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls extending substantially parallel to one another and being normally inclined with respect to the disposition of said transverse walls to provide ice block compartments therebetween of parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and mechanism associated with said longitudinal grid walls for imparting a force thereto to simultaneously move same relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal inclined position to enlarge the compartments therebetween.

7. In combination, a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice blockcompartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide the ice block compartments therebetween with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, at least one of said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for moving said one longitudinal grid wall relative to said transverse grid walls out of its normal inclined position after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments between said longitudinal grid walls and to break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

8. In combination a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a. removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of'ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide the ice block compartments therebetween ,with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for simultaneously moving said longitudinal grid walls relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal position of. inclination after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments therebetween and to break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

9. In combination a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal walls and a plurality of walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form are-movable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the trayto provide the ice block compartments therebetween with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough,.said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, and means movable in a single direction of. motion for elevating said unitary grid structure together with-ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray and for also moving said longitudinal grid walls simultaneously relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal position of inclination after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments therebetween and to break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

10. In combination a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart single thickness substantially nonflexible metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of single thickness substantially non-flexible metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof,

said walls being secured together to form a removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of. ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide the ice block compartments therebetween with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, at least one of said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for moving said one longitudinal grid wall relative to said transverse grid walls out of its normal position partment walls for causing release or ice bloc from said grid structure.

11. In combination a. tray having a grid disposed therein, said'grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart single thickness substantially non-flexible metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of single thickness substantially nonflexible metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined-with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide the ice block compartments therebetween with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, means for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and means for simultaneously moving said longitudinal grid walls relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal position of inclination after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments therebetween and to break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

12. In combination a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart single thickness substantially non-flexible metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of single thickness substantially nonfiexible metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide the ice block compartments therebetween with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, and means movable in a single direction of motion for elevating said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray and for also moving said longitudinal grid walls simultaneously relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal position of inclination after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments. therebetween and to break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

13. In combination a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart single thickness substantially nonfiexible metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of single thickness substantially non-flexible metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to provide the ice block compartments therebetweenwith a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being movable relative to said transverse grid walls, a lever for imparting a force to said tray to elevate said unitary grid structure and ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and mechanism having a part thereof engaging said longitudinal grid walls and operable by movement of said lever for imparting a force to said longitudinal grid walls to move same relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal position of inclination into a substantially vertical position after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments therebetween and break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

14. In combination a tray having a grid disposed therein, said grid comprising a plurality of spaced apart single thickness substantially nonflexible metal longitudinal walls and a plurality of single thickness substantially non-flexible metal walls extending transversely thereto in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, said walls being secured together to form a removable unitary grid structure dividing the interior of the tray into three or more longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, said longitudinal grid walls being substantially parallel to one another and normally inclined with respect to the bottom of the tray to providethe ice block compartments therebetween with a parallelogram form in one direction of cross-section therethrough, said longitudinal grid walls being con-,

structed and arranged for movement relative to said transverse grid walls about a point intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, a lever carried by said grid structure for imparting a force to one end of said tray to elevate the unitary grid and ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray, and mechanism having a part thereof engaging the upper portion of said longitudinal grid walls and operable by movement of said lever for imparting a force to said longitudinal grid walls to move same relative to said transverse grid walls out of their normal position of inclination into a substantially vertical position after the unitary structure has been elevated relative to the tray to enlarge the compartments therebetween and break ice blocks loose from the compartment walls for causing release of ice blocks from said grid structure.

FRANCIS P. KEIPER. 

